CONGRATULATIONS
The Submarines Association Australia congratulates the following who have been successful in earning their Submarine qualification:
ABCISSM B Davidian -  HMAS Collins 13NOV09

Around the Traps

Alan Mooney writes "You don't hear from me very often but I read your log every week and think of those of us who served together, and hope they are keeping well.  My family and I are well and have organized to take my long service leave and annual leave of 13 months total, starting on the 30 August 2010. We have booked to travel Europe and UK probably come back via USA. My oldest daughter was married in Las Vegas a year ago today. Went to Hawaii and visited the places that we played beer ball etc with the crew of USS Barbel some years ago. Time flys. Norm - keep up the good work and get well."

Anatol Dangel thanks all those that sent him information on where to obtain model kits for Oberons and said  "Just read the latest log, had the best laugh I have for years.  Jim must be on some good shit. I was not born in Australia but in Poland and came to Australia when I was two years old and only been living in Australia for sixty years. The only under cover work I did was with the girls in every port.  I would like to thank Peter Reid too. Will have a look at the site that he recommended."

Kev Batty also answered the call "In answer to Anatol Dangel's question regarding O Boat models, I also have the 1/350th Oberon resin model from Fleetline Models but from Perth I think. Its not bad but I would like a "proper" put together plastic one. I also have one of these coming over [I hope Mrs Batty?] "

Paul "Diesel" Dann said "Well my daughter and I made it back from Sydney in one piece, see pics of her looking not the least bit impressed by Onslow!! She could not get off the boat soon enough, I told her that I used to feel the same way but at least this time there was no risk of them shutting the lids and sailing! Sydney, a nice place to visit but couldn't live there again..."

Looking for............
Andrea Steele of Reigate, Surrey, UK has been researching the whereabouts of a Mr. Richard Mason for herfriend Mrs. Nancy Cruickshank (nee May) who is 87 years old. Andrea wrote "She remembers her family taking in a young sub mariner who was at Dartmouth Naval College and would like to know if he is still alive. Mrs. Cruickshank's family home was in Essex, UK, at this time. The only information I have about him is that he was English, was born possibly in 1923, became and sub-mariner and lived in Australia for most of his life. She tells me also that he prospered in Australia selling farm machinery. I know this is a long shot as she last saw him when she was 17 but she has been asking me to do this for the last four years and I feel I should help her.  I was searching the internet and found your website which mentions a Dickie Mason who was in the 4th submarine squadron and I presume was English.  It would be wonderful if this was the same man and would bring some sort of closure for Mrs. Cruickshank. Even more wonderful if he were still alive and they could get in touch."  We have LCDR Dickie Mason as a member, but like so many others, his contact details are out of date.  If you know a contact number for Dickie could you please let me know.

Sick List
Ex ABETPSM Robert Fuderer is in the Special Care Unit at the Morling Lodge Centre for Aged Care (51 Hicks Street, Red Hill ACT) and I am sure a call or card from old shipmates would be appreciated.

Sex in the Shower
In a recent survey Victorians have proved to be the most likely to have had sex in the shower!  In the survey, carried out for him, by a leading toiletries firm, a huge majority, 86% of Victorian men, said that they have enjoyed sex in the shower.  The other 14% said they hadn ' t been to prison yet.

Benny Hill sent this photo of Otama and said "I am the good looking one next to the fin". Select image for larger view.

Tony Critchely's stint overseas must be very interesting. In a recent email he wrote "I was asked to look after this chap Kurt Fernley in Damascus, he didn't need looking after, Kurt arrived at the airport travelling solo. I was just his gofer as required for the 4 days. He was in Damascus to talk to parents with disadvantaged children about his life and experiences, he spoke to four groups and moved them to tears each time.

He own parents were told he would die within a week of being born, he is twenty eight now. Anyway his 3 brothers and 3 sisters where made to look after him; where ever they went, they had to take Kurt along, they lived on a farm. After a while he became too big to carry and his siblings said "hey if ya wana come you must drag yourself along". From that moment his life changed he became determined to survive, Kurt has won gold and silver at the Para Olympics and gold many times at marathons around the world in wheelchair racing.

At the moment he is on the Kokoda trail paying respect to the Diggers, he told he was going to do the trail when we where in Damascus. Kurt is crawling along on his hands he is very humble and an all round nice fellow.

I respect and admire this guy and he is very easy to talk with. Fellows there is a blog link underneath here if you would like to see, he is blogging on the trail. If you want to follow Kurt's Kokoda trip, check out http://kurtfearnley.beinvolved.com.au/"

Interesting year 1981
1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool crowned soccer champs of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes tournament
4. The Pope died

Interesting year 2005
1.Prince Charles got married
2.Liverpool crowned soccer champs of Europe
3.Australia lost the Ashes tournament
4.The Pope died
Lesson to be learned
The next time Prince Charles gets married, somebody must warn the Pope!

HEALTH MATTERS

What is the Companion Card?
The Companion Card is an identification card which identifies the bearer as a person who, due to their disability, requires lifelong attendant care to participate at most community facilities and events.  The cardholder presents their card at participating affiliate organisations to purchase a ticket or pay an entry fee and receive a ticket for their companion at no extra charge.

DEFENCE NEWS

Submarine Organisational structure changes - again.............
The establishment of the Submarine Capability Development Branch in the Navy Strategic Command will result in a restructuring of the organisation of the submarine community. 

In a major reform to improve the availability of the Collins class and to provide a solid foundation for the Future Submarine Force (FSM) CN has directed the establishment of a Submarine Capability Development Branch (SMCB) with a staff of ten in Canberra from February 2010.  SMCB will be led by Director General Submarine Capability (DGSMC).  DGSMC will be responsible to CN for the overall delivery of future submarine capability.  Fleet Command will retain responsibility for force generation of the current submarine fllet.

The change will mean that Commodore Submarines will relocate from Fleet Base West.  Captain submarines will become Commander Subforce (COMSUBFOR) and Captain of HMAS Stirling will become Senior Naval officer - WA.

China admits secretly salvaging British submarine HMS Poseidon
China has admitted secretly salvaging a British submarine sunk in an accident in 1931, but claimed there was no sign of the remains or personal effects of the 18 men who were entombed in HMS Poseidon when it went down off the former naval base of Weihai. Beijing has only confirmed that it raised and scrapped the Poseidon in 1972 after its fate was reported by The Daily Telegraph shortly after the anniversary of the sinking on June 9.

But China's claim that the hull of the vessel contained no human remains, identity tags, watches, rings or other personal items has provoked anger among relatives of the men who died. "It was a shock to discover the Chinese authorities' claims and I'm deeply upset and disappointed," said Penny Lewis, whose grandfather, Able Seaman Frederick Tolliday, died in the accident. "And that is not only for myself, but especially on behalf of my father and grandmother who were both still alive in 1972 when the Poseidon was recovered," she said.

"The Royal Navy has always maintained that a large number of the crew never escaped from the vessel, including my grandfather, but this conflicts with the Chinese saying no remains or personal effects were discovered. Who is telling the truth?" said Mrs Lewis, 51, from Stevenage, Herts.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said it "takes very seriously the issue of the sovereignty of United Kingdom maritime graves."

Chinese authorities informed the ministry that "due to the long time that has passed and the lack of effective record keeping during that turbulent period of Chinese history, they have no more information that that which appears on the Shanghai Salvage Bureau's web site."

It was this brief reference to the raising of the Poseidon during the Cultural Revolution that caught the attention of American maritime historian Steven Schwankert. Subsequent inquiries led to evidence that the Chinese salvaged the vessel without informing London in order to test the skills of their naval special forces and newly formed underwater recovery units, as well as to clear a fishing area of a hazard that had been damaging fishermen's nets for four decades.

And while it is accepted that little more can be done to protest the raising of the vessel, there are hopes that China might be encouraged to conduct a new investigation into the remains of the crew, which experts believe would have been recovered.

After all, they point out, the CSS Hunley, one of the first submarines ever built and sunk in 1864 during the American Civil War, contained eight skeletons that had been almost perfectly preserved when it was recovered from Charleston harbour in April 2004.

"There is no doubt in my mind that there would have been human remains on board, and that means that either the people who raised the submarine lied to the Chinese government, or they are lying to us," said David Clarke, whose grandfather survived the sinking.

Petty Officer Reginald Clarke spent more than three hours inside the submarine before managing to escape using the then-new Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus, a rudimentary underwater breathing system designed to lift sailors to the surface. Eight men managed to leave a bow section compartment, although two failed to reach the surface and another died later.

"The answer the families have been given from the Chinese is completely unsatisfactory and not at all believable," Mr Clarke added.

The question of the fate of the crew of the Poseidon was raised in Parliament in June by Dr Julian Lewis, the shadow defence minister, who believes that an opportunity still remains for both the families and the Chinese naval authorities to benefit from the situation.

"It is understandable that the Chinese authorities are sensitive about any remains that may have been discovered, but I do hope that they will check their records a little more thoroughly," he said.

"This is because they have a real opportunity to do something positive, by reaching out from their modern navy to the descendants of sailors in our inter-war navy, to strengthen bonds and perhaps even invite the relatives to an appropriate ceremony in Weihai to rebury any remains they have found," he added.

Boof and Niggs time to go, it's walk time.............

My little break 'roughing it' in the bush wore me out, it is tiring sitting in the bush swatting flies all day, mossies all night while bathed in a lather of sweat............ who said camping was romantic and lots of fun!  I vowed years ago to never go camping again as the body is accustomed to soft beds and white starched sheets and pillow cases. I now understand why I made that vow and will never sleep in anything less than a double bed ever again!!! Until my next trip to hospital, there seems to be a shortage of them there.

The dogs did not like being deprived of their home comforts either, Pal is no where near as nice as chicken and mince, the normal dining experience for my two boys.  And they were not impressed with their sleeping arrangements either, an old doona and no mattress. If we had stayed any longer I think that they may have tried to eat me, Niggs was salivating every time he licked my hand.

However, the trip did accomplish one thing, it gave me time to plan for the future and as soon as I can I will be making some changes - I may even return to WA.  I love Bauple, but I am missing the sea and it is too isolated, especially if health becomes a problem, I am not getting any younger. Besides, I hate XXXX!

I returned home to find that my neighbours had looked after my chooks, fish and birds and the grass had been watered and mowed, a nice touch.  It is good to know that people can be nice.  The lack of rain is having an impact though, I am on clay and it has started to dry out and shrink.  My gates no longer close properly and cracks are appearing around the driveway and pool............ hope we get some rain soon.

I have also come home to hundreds of email and I have just scraped the surface to get enough for today's Log.  I am falling behind with my secretary duties and will try catch up before I go back into hospital on the 16th. I want to finalise and promulgate the November issue of In Depth next week, so any entries to me by the 12th please.

Again, thanks to all for your concern, I am genuinely touched by the number of you that have been in touch, sorry if I have not been able to get back to you.

Till next time...............

SAA NEWS

Last month I wrote an item on the benefits of the Association's Trust Fund and that a benefit of SAA membership is the ability for the family of Members to access the SAA Welfare Fund in times of need.  At the time I wrote this $5500.00 had been allocated to assist Members so far this year, about 10% of the Fund.  Unfortunately there has been more call on the Fund in October and two more grants have been made.

The Welfare Fund is designed to assist submariners or their families in financial difficulties. A strong membership of the Association will ensure that the long term future of the Fund is assured. Support from the SAA Welfare fund is only available to financial SAA members as specified in the SAA Constitution.

And yet I still get feedback indicating that a lot of submariners out will not join the Association or have not renewed their memberships because they do not see any point in paying $10 (or less) each year to support the Association.  This attitude really pisses me off! Committee Members at all levels, DVA Advocates and Welfare Fund Trustees spend a considerable amount of their time (and money in many cases) to represent submariners when required.  The Association is your link, assisted by our affiliation with other kindred Service Organisations (RSL and NAA), to the Government.

One 'service' that is available to all submariners are our websites and newsletter,  a voice for the whole submarine community.  The sites have been instrumental in bringing together many lost mates and promulgating news of interest to OUR community.

Not saying that we don't have plenty of room to improve, but unless Members get involved, the process will take a long time.  If you think that, at $10 a year, you don't get value for money please let me know what we can do to make it worth you parting with your hard earned dollars.  If you can't afford Membership, let me know and I may be able to solve your problem.

To all those 'non'' members out there, please reconsider............................. and stop being so tight!!!

Norm Williams
National Secretary
Submarines Association Australia

Queensland Branch
The format for the Christmas get together was apparently such a success last year that it was voted at the last meeting held in Bundaberg that we should do the same thing again this year on the 5th of December. So once again Rose & Ken McBryde have given us a special deal for a cruise on the Pumicestone Passage. The boat can take up to 45 and at a squeeze 50 and it is booked for a 1030 start at the jetty just to the north of TS ONSLOW

So Start Time for the cruise is 1030 and Stop Time is 1230 when we will all disembark and adjourn to TS Onslow where “ Peewee” Petherick has thrown open his doors and is once again allowing us to use his facilities

The Picnic is a BYO and the Social Committee expect Jock Howes to make the Tureen for our tasting which he boasted about last year. We do not forget Jock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And for something different we will be running a raffle on the day so we will be asking you to make a donation to the cause of $20 which will be used to pay for the hire of the boat from Ken & Rose which we also hope once again will include that “Dab Hand” of a Driver Ken Mc Bryde who will explain to us the in’s & out’s of Pumicestone Passage. Anything remaining out of the $20 will go towards the raffle.

To make things easy for us “tickets” will not be used but your names will be pulled out of a hat for the prizes. So to all of you please let us know ASAP if you will be joining us on the day - either Huck Finn (0411 724 942 or pfi54970@bigpond.net.au Rob Woolrych 5442 1991 or robjan@launch.net.au0

“Huckleberry” Finn will be arranging the prizes and he lets it be known that any donations will be gratefully received

Graeme Caesar
Secretary
Phone: 0418 449 528
Web: www.saaqld.org

Western Australia Branch
Paul Meakin said that the AGM held on the 25th October was well attended, including a visitor from the UK, Dave Broadley from the Hull Branch of the Submariners Association. The Presidents Report covered brief remarks over the success of SUBCON in the West and noted that the Lotteries Commission of WA had provided additional resources to Chad Hardy going towards the cost for his transport.

The XMAS Lunch is to be reprogrammed due to a conflict with an evening concert at the Swan Yacht Club. It was agreed to investigate alternate venues for the Xmas Lunch. Ramon’s at Willow Pond was proposed as an alternative and investigations will be made by the Secretary as to the costs and menu options.

The President presented the Branch's new Patron CMDR Bob Trotter OAM RAN (Rtd) with a Patron Certificate and welcomed him into the post. Bob responded indicating he was pleased to able to represent the Association as its Patron.

Bob Trotter advised that he had heard good comments regarding the appearance of the Submariners at Fremantle and the President thought it made sense to parade in the city where the WWII Submarines were based. After some discussions it was unanimously agreed to continue the ANZAC March in 2010 at Fremantle. The Secretary requested members to investigate the potential to borrow open topped vehicles in order for the older and infirm members to participate in the March. Also members are requested to advise if they will need transport for next years march.

The President invited Dave Broadley to say a few words. Dave thanked the meeting for the welcome and said he was surprised to see how well we had all behaved. His advice was that in Hull, with perhaps a few more attendees, the President often struggled to maintain order even with the use of the gavel! But it must be said that the RN Submariners usually start their meetings with a tot of rum so that may explain their lively behaviour!

On a sadder note the President referred to the passing of Jim Redwood and the struggle it had been for his wife Anne to travel from Cootamundra to the Hospital treating Jim. As an original member of the WA Branch it was considered appropriate to make a donation to Anne to assist in her expenses. The meeting unanimously agreed to send $500 and in a spontaneous gesture a hat was also passed around and another $240 was donated.

Paul T Meakin
Secretary

The following are upcoming Association events, full details of future SAA Events are available in the Events page at www.submarinesaustralia.com.

Date & Time	State	Event	Remarks
11th November 2009 1100	WA	Remembrance Day	Kings Park. Contact Paul Meakin for details.
5th December 2009	QLD	Christmas Social	See entry under QLD Branch or contact Graeme Caesar for details

Missing.............
If your name appears below (or if you are in touch with someone who is) it is because we have an outdated email address.  Please send email with new address so that our records can be updated. 

Alex Seizovic	Paul Gardiner	Kevin O'Hara	Trevor Lee-Conway	Wayne Lloyd	Snow Ross
Pedro Pederson	Ian MacKenzie	Bernard Sullivan	Karl Overing	Paul Summers	Manuel Marquez
Alf Kennedy	Fred Hooper	Geoff Callaghan	Jon & Carol Jankowski	Robert Jones

CONGRATULATIONS
The Submarines Association Australia congratulates the following who have been successful in earning their Submarine qualification:

LSAWASM P Ingall - HMAS Farncomb 28OCT09
ABCISSM N Houston - HMAS Farncomb 28OCT09
ABMTSM RL Mitchell - HMAS Collins 30OCT09
ABMTSM M.J Smith -  HMAS Collins 30OCT09

Around the Traps

Paul Hartridge wrote "Last week was both a sad and happy occasion for the funeral services of both CPOEWSM Geoff ‘Knocka’ White and WOMTSM Shaun ‘Haggers’ Haggerty. Sad of course that these wonderful shipmates have died and way before their times, but happy in the sense it brought Shipmates together to remember the good times we had serving with them, I was fortunate to have served with both. Attached are just a couple of pics from the Service’s.  The photo from a pub is with Geoff’s widow, Kylea, and shipmates. The other s of Shaun’s widow, Gaye, preparing to scatter his Ashes with the Chaplain."

Paul added "On a side note, there are quite a number of Shipmates on Facebook, one of many ways of keeping in contact with one another. Maybe you could ‘plug’ it for those out there that are not aware?"   Paul, did you get in touch with that pretty WO on the left though Facebook?

Don and Fran Fleet have departed Queensland on their annual pilgrimage to Adelaide and parts in between, if you see them coming, duck! And NSW is not safe either, well know free loader Rod Baker is on his way. He is taking Lyn to Sydney to view their first Granddaughter. Rod said "Lyn has already spent a fortune - lucky my Consultancy rates are outrageous."

Another visitor to Sydney this month is Paul Dann "I am heading down to Sydney to show my 9 year old daughter the big city and to visit the Maritime museum and have a look through Onslow. I will be in Sydney on the weekend of the 14th - 15th November."

Peter Smith sent this photo of himself, Ray 'Little Ned' Kelly and Peter Chegwidden taken at the Hunter Valley Private Hospital in Shortland, Newcastle.  Peter said "Ray is in rehab for the next two weeks after an operation on his back. He would appreciate visitors and he is in room 4, bed A. Little Ned was my "sea daddy" while undergoing my Part Three in HMAS Onslow back in 1971."

Another with back problems is Goldie Horne who is being admitted on the 9th of November for more surgery.  He must own his own bed in Greenslopes by now.... we are thinking of you mate.t

Jim Joyce noted "On reviewing the "Eternal Patrol" page I was reminded of some of the good blokes we have lost, Good Blokes who were tough and lived tough, worked hard and played hard. We are definitely not of the caliber of the BootNecks or Special Forces, but then they are not up to our Standards of Cold Nerves at 600 Feet!"  In another email Jim said "Bung, be very wary of the person you know as "Anatol Dangel" I believe he may be a KGB Agent of Ukrainian descent (sic) known during the "Cold War"years as 'Listen Carefully, I will say this only once."  Jim, are you taking your medication?

A frustrated wife buys a pair of crutch less knickers in an attempt to spice up her dead sex-life.  She puts them on, together with a short skirt and sits on the lounge opposite her husband.  At strategic moments she crosses her legs ……. enough times till her husband says…….
”Are you wearing crutch less knickers?”
“Y-e-s,” she answers with a seductive smile.
“Thank Christ for that……. I thought the stuffing was coming out of the lounge suite.”

UK visitor to the site, Tony Farrant, writes "I am an ex-submariner, a member of the Gatwick Branch in the UK.  In January 2010 I am visiting Australia for a two-week holiday with family, staying with relatives, and wondered if you could put me in touch with someone in the local branch for Sydney - maybe an email address and whether there is likely to be a branch meeting during my visit etc."  I have passed this on to the NSW Branch but if anyone out there knows Tony and wants to catch up, send him an email.

Steve 'Dolly' Gray writes "Two different pieces of information for you - In answer to Anatol Dangel's question regarding O Boat models, years ago I was given a 1/350th Oberon resin model in a Perspex case. This model was from Fleetline Models here in Melbourne.  I just 'googled' their website they have models of Oberons for $57.50 and Collins $47.50 p & p inclusive for Australian deliveries."  Peter Reid also offered Anatol advice "Try this website... http://www.otwdesigns.com/index.html

Christmas is on it's way and if the submariner in your life has been good reward him with a gift from the Slops Van. We have books, DVDs, caps and clothing. Order now before it is too late. For full details go to Slops Van

Dolly continued "Also in the current issue of Australian Warship magazine there is a brief item on Mr Alex Somlyay MP for Fairfax. His speech to the House of Representatives on Monday 25th May 2009 - ADF Personnel and 'Undeclared Operations.'  Interesting reading on the ASM/AASM debate that is still going on."  You are reminded that the Australian Warship magazine is sent to Members of the Naval Association Australia, a benefit of membership.

Tasmanian Member Ian 'Dougal' Doig is after some help in tracking down stickers.  He wrote "I've got hold of a second hand lifebelt and with the stickers had I "borrowed" have done it up to look like the tiddly one we used to have at the bottom of the gangway. Now I'm short of an "Orion" stick on crest to complete the job. An "Onslow" stick on would also be great so if I ever come across another lifebelt I could do it up too.  Wonder if you could help me in my search, as it (they) will look good on my bar wall."  These poms are a load of tea leafers........... Can you help him?

John Perryman, the Senior Naval Historical Officer at Sea Power Centre - Australia, sent a quick 'heads up' to advise us that hee recently added some more historic video titles to their History web site which may be of interest to you. The first is a short documentary concerning HMAS Perth in Vietnam entitled On the Gun Line. The second may be of interest to the men who served in the Strategic Reserve and who participated in SEATO Exercise Sea Devil. At the end of this video is a couple of other short period pieces which include other period pieces.

Here is a chance to pick up stationary cheap (or even free) from VistaPrint. When you click through to their site and place your first VistaPrint order, you will receive a special promotion and the website will earn VistaCash that helps pay for the site's stationary.  So order your own personal "business" cards now

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Holbrook Hologram Opened
The Holbrook Submarine Display Centre's Hologram opened on the 18th of October according to Roger Cooper.  Special guests that attended included: Mayor Denise Osborne, Andy Galley (President SAA ACT), Mike Bennett (President SAA VIC), Major General Steve Gower AO (Director of the Australian War Memorial),  CAPT Gregory Sammut CSC (representing NCOS),  Rear Admiral Ken Doolan AO (National President RSL), Greg Aplin MP (Member for Albury), LCDR Frank Owen (The Submarine Institute of Australia) and Mrs Jane Waters representing Mrs Gundula Holbrook.

A large contingent from the Victorian Branch of the Association had driven up from Melbourne by coach and were joined by other submariners from various states. The night before the opening just over fifty Submariners and wives joined locals for a welcoming dinner.

The opening started with Andy Galley and Geoff Burns, representing the ACT Branch of the SAA, presenting the Museum with the Banner from 1997 Submariners Freedom of entry march through Holbrook.  This was followed by Mike Bennett who, on behalf of the Victorian Branch of the SAA, presented the hand made "Jolly Roger" from HMS/M Unsparing to join a model of a U boat the RN captured and refitted and started back under the White Ensign that had previously been donated by the Branch.

This was followed by the opening ceremony, after which Roger Cooper, with some local school students, made a symbolic hand over (on loan) of Commander Holbrook's VC and other medals to Major General Steve Gower who accepted on behalf of the Australian War Memorial.

Roger Cooper added "We have had a steady flow of ex submariners donating artifacts and photos of late some of the more notable ones were from my old skipper Terry Roach with 2 large gold framed displays on Mctaggart Scotts supplying parts for the J Boats with photos and descriptions also an ex engineer who worked on the electric motors for the J Class managed to procure a set of large working drawings of the design of these artifacts like these are priceless thanks to both for their generosity. Plans for a building twice the size are on the agenda for 2010 along with a long awaited AE11 display. We are also putting together a display of Dolphins (submarine badges from around the world) if you have any out there collecting dust post them to The Curator Holbrook Submarine Museum NSW 2644."

SIA News
SIA Secretary Frank Owen reports: I had the honour to represent the SIA at the official opening of a new hologram at the Holbrook Museum on Saturday 18 October. The occasion was also used to hand over (on extended loan) Norman Holbrook's VC and other medals to the Australian War Memorial.

If you haven't had the opportunity to visit the museum, I really recommend it. Holbrook is much more than just the casing of OTWAY and the museum is really building up a head of steam as the region's second-biggest tourist attraction. The reconstruction of the Control Room has been done extremely accurately (except its plotting table is lacking the traces of blood from the various Navigators who would have received floggings from their COs!) and the hologram is outstanding. SIA member Roger Cooper is the museum's honorary Curator and he always welcomes submarine visitors. Let him know you're coming and I'm sure he'll make you very welcome. There's also a Visitor's Book for Submariners.

The hologram also helped explain to me the fact there is actually a link between B11 and AE2. Holbrook and Stoker were friends and, in many ways, B11 (and Holbrook's recollection of his exploits) paved the way for AE2's courageous transit some four months later. The SIA has plans to add some AE2 history to the Museum and bring that link to the surface.

The following article appeared in The Border Mail on 19 October 2009

Hologram lights way for tourists
Mrs Gundula Holbrook wasn’t there but that didn’t stop her hologram stand-in getting a rapturous round of applause. The Austrian wife of the first submariner to win the Victoria Cross and after whom Holbrook is named was instrumental in funding the state-of-the-art feature that is expected to draw thousands of extra tourists to the town’s submarine museum.

The 15cm hologram, moved among artifacts and scale models, to tell a story of bravery and daring that saw Lieutenant Norman Holbrook navigate through an underwater minefield to sink a Turkish battleship and his pride in the renaming of Germanton in his honour less than a year later.

Explosions, a torpedo and gunfire all feature in a display that earned a standing ovation in its first official viewing yesterday. The applause caught chairman of the museum committee and former submariner Roger Cooper by surprise. “I was amazed at the reaction from everyone; to get that sort of applause, I didn’t expect that,” he said. “We have had this in the in-tray for a few years, we had seen Cowra’s about the Japanese breakout and thought the Holbrook story would make an ideal topic but like everything else it comes down to money.

“Then we get this incredibly generous donation from Mrs Holbrook — it is just tremendous.”

Mrs Holbrook, 95, who was too frail to travel for the ceremony, previously gave $100,000 to help buy the upper shell of the HMAS Otway submarine in the town.

The submarine museum, that first opened in 1998, was presented with a Jolly Roger flag flown by HMS Unsparing in World War II.  The $10,000 artifact was handmade by the crew and used when the sub arrived in port — the skull and cross bones testament to the early belief that all submariners were pirates.

Australian Leaf Art available in SIA Shop
Australian Leaf Art specialises in handmade image rendering onto Australian native eucalyptus leaves. These are excellent gift or presentation ideas and Keith Chessell has recently provided the SIA and AE2CF the exclusive selling rights to Leaf Art featuring AE2. These are available from the SIA Shop framed ($50) or unframed ($20) plus $8 shipping and are available in walnut or mahogany frames. On the back of the artwork is information about AE2. We will have samples available for viewing at the Workshop to be held on 19 November at the Great Hall, ANU, Canberra.

SIA Dinner, Workshop and AGM
Arrangements for the Dinner, Workshop and AGM are nearly complete and we have received pretty good numbers. Our Keynote Speaker at the Dinner is Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt AO RAN, Head Future Submarine Program and the Workshop on the following day is the first opportunity that SIA members will have had for many years to make a real contribution to the direction of the Institute.

Visit the Workshop 2009 page for more info.

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HEALTH MATTERS

VETERANS URGED TO RETHINK THE NEXT DRINK
Veterans have new tools to manage alcohol consumption with the updated The Right Mix — Your Health and Alcohol package, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin announced today. “As the spring racing calendar and festive season is upon us, it is timely to reinforce the message that a healthier life involves the right mix of sensible alcohol use, good nutrition and exercise,” Mr Griffin said.

“There is an estimated 12,300 Australian veterans with drug or alcohol dependence or abuse, and alcohol has been a major contributor to both mental and physical health problems in the veteran community.

“The Right Mix program can help veterans, and the wider community, better understand and moderate their drinking.”

The Right Mix — Your Health and Alcohol includes a website www.therightmix.gov.au and resources such as fact sheets, questionnaires and practical tips to moderate drinking. “Understanding the effects of alcohol on the body and how it can interact with certain medications will help veterans make sensible choices about their drinking,” Mr Griffin said.

“By moderating their consumption, veterans can avoid the problems associated with heavy drinking that can lead to illness, injury and even premature death.”

The Right Mix was originally launched in 2001 as part of a project to reduce alcohol-related harm in the veteran community and address these issues in an integrated way with other physical and mental health conditions. It has been updated to reflect the recently published Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol. “My Department’s update of The Right Mix involved consultation with veterans and members of the ex‑service and Australian Defence Force communities, with the aim of making it more relevant and appealing to these groups,” Mr Griffin said.

“An education program is also underway to ensure key health professionals are aware of the revised guidelines and updated resources are available.”

Australians are encouraged to access The Right Mix website and use the interactive tools to assess their drinking behaviour.

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Scientists for Health Canada hypothesized that drinking beer makes men act like women. To test the theory they had 100 men, each drink a minimum of six pints of beer over the period of an hour. It was then observed that each man: gained weight; talked excessively without making sense, interrupted when other people were talking, argued over nothing, became overly emotional, failed to think rationally, couldn’t drive and refused to apologize when they were wrong.

They believed this was a “proven hypothesis!”

Depression is a killer. Go to beyondblue, a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related substance issues so that you may help others, or maybe even yourself.

“There is nothing wrong with asking for help.”

DEFENCE NEWS
Australia requires help for future submarine
The design and development of Australia's future submarine programme would be at the margins of the country's present scientific and technological capacity and would rely on assistance from allies, Greg Combet, the country's Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, said on 4 November.

In a speech setting out the challenges inherent in the SEA 1000 programme – costed at the end of October by a leading think-tank at more than AUD30 billion (USD27 billion) – Combet said the project would need "every bit of scientific, technological and industrial capacity that Australia can muster. And we will inevitably require assistance from our allies to succeed".

The defence White Paper published in May disclosed that Australia's six Collins-class submarines would begin to be replaced in 2025 by 12 next-generation submarines with greater range, longer endurance on patrol and expanded capabilities.

The government has said the new submarines would be conventionally powered and built in Australia. It has also confirmed that US science and technology support will be an important element of the new capability.

A Very Rude Awakening The night the Japanese midget subs came to Sydney Harbour Peter Grose - Paperback A ground-breaking new look at one of the most extraordinary stories of Australia at war. On the night of 31 May 1942, Sydney was doing what it does best: partying. The theatres, restaurants, dance halls, illegal gambling dens, clubs and brothels offered plenty of choice to roistering sailors, soldiers and airmen on leave in Australia's most glamorous city. The war seemed far away. Newspapers devoted more pages to horse racing than to Hitler. That Sunday night the party came to a shattering halt when three Japanese midget submarines crept into the harbour, past eight electronic indicator loops, past six patrolling Royal Australian Navy ships, and past an anti-submarine net stretched across the inner harbour entrance. Their arrival triggered a night of mayhem, courage, chaos and high farce which left 27 sailors dead and a city bewildered. The war, it seemed, was no longer confined to distant desert and jungle. It was right here at Australia's front door. Written at the pace of a thriller and based on new first person accounts and previously unpublished official documents, A Very Rude Awakening is a ground-breaking and myth-busting look at one of the most extraordinary stories ever told of Australia at war. Available now from the Slops Van

Inquiry demanded into $100bn new subs plan
The Federal Opposition has demanded a parliamentary inquiry into plans for a fleet of 12 new submarines, which it says could cost taxpayers up to $100 billion.  The Government has launched a sales pitch to convince the public that building 12 next generation, long-range submarines in Australia is a good idea, but has refused to put a price on the boats.

Experts have predicted the cost of building the boats at $3 billion each.  That does not include through-life support, or take account of inflation and other potential cost blowouts.  The Opposition said the cost could reach $100 billion by the time the last boat hits the water in 2037.

Defence Science and Personnel Minister Greg Combet said the new submarines would enable the Defence Force to take warfare to an "adversary's front door.  Australia's ability to conduct successful defence operations in theatres distant from our shores will be enormously strengthened by the surveillance, intelligence and strike capabilities of a long-range submarine," he said.

Opposition defence science spokesman Bob Baldwin has demanded the parliamentary inquiry. He wants to know why the navy needs 12 submarines to do what six smaller vessels do today. He also questioned the navy's ability to crew a dozen boats, given there were only enough submariners currently to crew two boats at any one time.  "If we can only get two to sea today, then why are we looking at 12 bigger boats?" Mr Baldwin said. "Where did the number 12 come from?"

Mr Combet conceded a shortage of submariners would be a "significant vulnerability" for the new submarines. "The Navy is committed to developing a positive cultural shift and enhanced employment conditions that will help stabilise the submarine workforce," Mr Combet said

Australia’s Next-Generation Submarines
In its 2009 White Paper, Australia’s Department of Defence and Labor Party government looked at the progress being made in anti-shipping surveillance-strike complexes, and the need to defend large sea lanes, and dropped something of a surprise. They proposed increasing Australia’s submarine fleet to 12 boats by 2030-2040, all of which would be successors to Australia’s a current fleet of advanced Collins class submarines.

The Collins class was designed with the strong cooperation of ThyssenKrupp’s Swedish Kockums subsidiary, and built in Australia by state-owned ASC. The class has encountered a number of issues, including significant difficulties with its combat systems, issues with acoustic signature, major cost growth to A$ 5+ billion, and schedule slippage. Worse still, reports indicated that the RAN can only staff 2 of its 6 submarines put a huge crimp in the fleet’s usefulness. High-level attention led to 29 recommendations aimed at improving conditions and staffing on Australia’s submarines, and those are now being implemented. Their long term effect remains to be seen.

So, too, does the nature of Australia’s future submarine project – and its eventual cost…

Updates and Key Events
Nov 5/09: Acting Minister for Defence Greg Combet highlights the major challenges facing Australia’s next generation submarine project in a speech to the Sydney Institute. Excerpts of “From Collins to Force 2030: The Challenge of the Future Submarine”:

”...the White Paper recognises that the aim of establishing sea and air control in our primary operating environment does not entail a purely defensive or reactive approach. Rather, we must be able to conduct proactive combat operations at a distance from our shores. This demands a mix of intelligence, defensive and strike assets to ensure both deterrence and, if that were to fail, an ability to impose unacceptably high costs…. Put simply, we need to be able to take warfare to an adversary’s front door. Submarines are able to stop an adversary from deploying its’ fleet by maintaining sea denial. By imposing disproportionate costs on an adversary, submarines represent an asymmetric threat well suited to Australia’s defence.

....In planning for the future submarine, we need to consider a range of engineering and production solutions, ranging from the acquisition of a Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) design, options consistent with the Kinnaird/Mortimer reforms, to a developmental solution designed indigenously…. Electric Boat have a rule known as the ‘law of 1:3:8’, that is, a task that takes an hour in module construction takes 3 hours when the hull has been assembled and 8 hours when the submarine is in the water. In other words, make sure the design is mature before you start cutting steel.

...Studies have shown that 90 per cent of the discretionary decisions that affect the outcome of a project are made in the first 7 to 12 per cent of the project’s life. There are three things that we must get right… adequately define the operating concepts and requirements for the future submarine…. develop a sophisticated acquisition strategy [which may include rolling production or batch buys].... understand the interaction between capability and the acquisition strategy. It is often the interaction between these two processes that leads to trouble.

One of the matters that we will need to tackle early in the project is the need to invest in and develop a sustainable industrial base that is capable of designing, constructing and maintaining 12 large submarines [which will include cooperation with US Navy facilities].”

Nov 3/09: The Sydney Morning Herald quotes Acting Defence Minister Greg Combet, who says that the USA’s RAND Corporation will be conducting a study related to the submarine project, due in February 2010:

”(Defence) is undertaking a number of studies to identify and explore all the options to ensure we have the appropriate design capability to support our submarines throughout their life.”

Oct 29/09: The Australian Strategic Policy Institute releases “Strategic Insights 48 – How to buy a submarine: Defining and building Australia’s future fleet.” ASPI projects an $A 36 billion (currently about $32.6 billion) cost to field 12 built-in-Australia diesel-electric submarines – a sum comparable to buying 12 of the USA’s most advanced SSN-774 Virginia class nuclear fast attack submarines. It adds:

“As described, the resultant boats are likely to be the largest, most complex and, at $3 billion each, the most expensive conventional submarines ever built. The industrial capacity and capability to produce these vessels does not exist in Australia at the moment. By the time construction commences, it will be over fifteen years since the last Collins-class submarine was launched. Hard-earned lessons from that process will need to be re-learned in many cases and the required engineering and construction skills will have to be built up to the required level…. This paper, authored by Sean Costello and Andrew Davies, surveys the complexities that have to be negotiated and suggests a way ahead that makes best use of the resources available to government.”

See also Full report.

May 2/09: Australia’s 2009 Defence White Paper is released. One of its goals is a fleet of 12 non-nuclear diesel-electric submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion, capable of launching land attack cruise missiles, to be assembled in South Australia. Design to be determined. ASC is not guaranteed the contract, however, something Fitzgibbon had pledged during the election.

The subs could be upgraded versions of the existing Collins class, or a foreign partnership around a sub like Spain’s S-80, which will already be designed to launch Tomahawk missiles.

The Collins class will also receive sonar and other upgrades during their lifetime.

HMCS Chicoutimi moving costs secret
Canadians won't find out how much it has cost to move a fire-damaged submarine from Halifax to Victoria for refit. CBC News has been trying to find out the price tag for moving HMCS Chicoutimi since it was transported last April to British Columbia from Nova Scotia via the Panama Canal.

The submarine, badly damaged by fire in 2004, needs two years worth of repairs. The cost will be covered by $1.5 billion given to a Victoria-based company.

In a 130-page document released by the Department of National Defence under an access to information request by CBC News, every reference to costs was blacked out. The department said it cannot release the numbers because of third party privacy rules. The documents do give a better picture of the concerns over the transferring of HMCS Chicoutimi to the West Coast.

The documents revealed that the Victoria-based company awarded the submarine refit and maintenance contract for the submarines had not finished its preparation to do the work at the time it was given the contract.

According to the documents, the military had been studying the proposal to move the Chicoutimi for a year, but weeks before the scheduled move emails were still being circulated for final approval. The military expressed concerns that any delay would be unacceptable and place the government in a vulnerable position with respect to its contractual obligations, the documents say.

On March 5, 2009, one email stated the project still had not been given the OK, and had to be by the next day or costs would rise. The documents noted that would potentially result in significant media interest and further scrutiny of the submarine program. After the issues were settled, HMCS Chicoutimi was put on a heavy lift ship and sailed through the Panama Canal to its final destination because it could not get there under its own steam.

Submarine Learning Center turning green with new building
The soon to be new Submarine Learning Center (SLC) moved from the drawing board to becoming reality during a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 21, aboard Naval Submarine Base New London.

When completed, the new facility will be a modern two-story brick and glass building that consolidates all of SLC's functions under one roof. Sustainable strategies and features have been integrated into the facility's design to minimize energy consumption, conserve resources, minimize adverse effects to the environment and reduce the total cost of ownership by using a whole building, lifecycle approach.

The energy efficient building is certified by the U.S. Green Building Rating system and is forecast for completion in November 2010.
The SLC is one of Naval Education and Training Command's fifteen specialized learning centers. It plans, programs, budgets, and executes individual and team training for undersea warfare enterprise mission readiness. SLC develops, assigns, and coordinates future undersea warfare training and education solutions. It allocates resources to execute undersea warfare training for the Commander of Submarine Forces.

I get confused when I heard the word "Service" used in connection with some organisations, such as:

• Postal 'Service'

• Telephone 'Service'

• Cable TV 'Service'

• Civil 'Service'

• State, City, & Public 'Service'

• Customer 'Service'

I was never sure what 'Service' meant.

Today, I overheard two farmers talking, and one of them said he had hired a bull to 'Service' a few cows. It all came into focus. Now I understand what all those people are doing to us.

You are now as enlightened as I am.

Boof come on before Niggs notices us gone, it's walk time.............

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